Subscribe now for full access and no adverts
There has been much debate about the exact nature of the perceived link between the Milky Way and the goddess Nut. A new study, published in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, suggests that rather than the Milky Way being seen as a physical manifestation of Nut (with specific stars directly associated with different parts of her body), different aspects of the goddess were seen in the constellations in different seasons. By comparing ancient Egyptian texts and simulations of the Milky Way’s appearance in the ancient Egyptian night sky, the study concludes that Nut’s outstretched arms were seen during the winter months, and her torso in the summer. As the Milky Way changes position over the year, this would enable her head to remain in the West, where she was believed to swallow the sun and decanal stars at night, and her loins in the East, where she gave birth to the sun and stars at dawn.
Text: Sarah Griffiths / Image: public domain via Wikicommons
